Truck Fire Days After Brake Repair Leads to Lawsuit

SAN ANGELO, TX — Three trucking companies are suing Bruckner Truck Sales Inc. in Tom Green County district court, alleging a brake repair performed in September 2017 led to a fiery crash just five days later that destroyed a tractor, trailer and cargo. 

Reefer Carrier LLC, Special Transport LLC, and SSR Trucking LLC filed the suit in 2021 in the 51st District Court as Cause No. A210335C, claiming Bruckner breached contract and the implied warranty of good and workmanlike repair. 

According to the petition, a Reefer Carrier driver was hauling cargo in Colorado on Sept. 12, 2017, when the brakes malfunctioned, causing a fire and total loss of the vehicle and load. 

The plaintiffs seek damages exceeding $200,000 but not more than $1 million, plus attorney’s fees, interest, and court costs. 

Bruckner Truck Sales Inc., based in Amarillo, filed a general denial and raised affirmative defenses, including statute of limitations, failure to mitigate damages, and lack of standing. 

Court records show extensive activity over several years, including partial summary judgments, expert witness designations, repeated pre-trial hearings and motions, some reset or vacated. The case remains active.